Automatically-supported device for the direct examination of the larynx



Jan. 5 {1926. 1,568,732

F. HASLINGER AUTOIATICALLY SUPPORTED DEVICE FOR THE DIRECT EXAMINATION OF THE LARYNX Ema Augjlst 2a, 1923 Invcni'or- Franz Hashing" his an'ornw Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITE 1 STATES PATENT tim FRA Z ,HASLINGER, or VIENNA, AUSTRIA.

AUTOMATICALLY-SUPPORTED DEVICE ron THE DIRECT EXAMINATION or THE I LARYNX.- 7

Application filed August 28, 1923.- .Serial No. 659,762.

, amination of thelarynx by means of, which the posterior wall of the pharynx and by the larynx is cleared (laid free) for examination in consequence of the arrangement of scoops introduced into the mouth Devices of this kind are already known, which, besidesa tongue-scoop, are provided with a rigid support resting upon the opcrating-table or on the parietes of the chest of the person to be examined. However these known devices have many, drawbacks, particularly in view of their complicated construction and diffioult handling.

Accordingvto the present invention the device essentially comprises two scoops, which are adjustable with respect to each other and are adapted to be fixed atdifferent distances from one another, one of the scoops serving as tongue-scoop and the other scoop being formed as a pharyngeal scoop. The counterpressure required for fixing the pharyngeal scoop is taken up by the anterior aspectof the vertebral column. The pharyngeal scoop is made'extensible, and is preferably provided wlth a longitudlnally adjustable member, such as a bar or,

rail, and at the end of this member is' provided an adjustable support adapted to ad just-itself to, and rest against, the posterior, wall of the pharynx. In a preferredem-i bodiment, this support comprises a shoe pivotally, carried at the vforwardend of the extensible member.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating byway of example a device embodying the features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my im proved instrument, and e Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

' The tongue scoop a is a trough shaped member, preferably V-shaped in transverse section, and the pharyngeal scoop b is a straight member having its longitudinal edges turned over to form a guide Way, the 7 two members being hinged or otherwise pivotally connected to one another by means of pivotal joints j. The turned over edges of the scoop I; receive and guide a sliding bar (Z. An adjustable support, such as a shoe 0, is movably and adjustably secured to the free end of the bar 03 by means of a hinge e disposed substantially midway of,

the support 0. A rod f is attached to the rear of the bar (Z, and is provided with a knob g which may be gripped for the-purpose of sliding the bar cl inwardly and outwardly in the grooves or by the edges of the scoop guideway formed 1 -70 The tongue scoop .ais provided atitsrear I end with a framellke bracket or bifurcated portion h which carries two pins 1 an l' i at opposite ends thereof for the reception of a removable handle 02, In the, illustrated emvbodiment, the instrument is-inva position for use with patient reclining on his back.

For'the purpose of allowing examination of the throat of a patient in sitting position,

the handle n may be removed from the pin 2' by unscrewing the nut o and it may then be screwedlon to the pin 2', provided at the,

opposite side of the bracket so that the in struinent will be used in an inverted position with the tongue scoop on the'bottom,

Further, the frame-like bracket h is pron vided with a shaft or spindle Z, furnishediat its freeend with a locking device is, adapted V .to be actuated by means of ,a lever m. The

locking device may comprise atoothedj segment carried by the spindle land a springpressed pawl engaging said teeth, the lever m being removably attached to the spindle whereby pressure on the lever will rotate the segment, and the pawl will then, hold it in the new position. v

The spindle Z isprovided near its center i ment the shaft land the projections, se

.with, at least one transverse projectiomso lj that whenturning the lever on and the seg latterwill act on the rear end ofthe pharyngeal scoop Z) and swing the same round the pivots Thus the pharyngeal scoop can be secured by the locking device in any desired angular position with respect to the tongue-scoop. In order to comfortably opcrate the locking device from the other side,

e. g. when securing the handle at to the pin 2', the lever m may be removed from the shaft Z and secured to the other end thereof.

Further a screw-nut p, provided with a pin or the like, is adjustably mounted on the edge of the pharyngeal scoop b. As shown, the pin may be set either parallel or vertical to the pharyngeal scoop by means of the screw-nut. In the dotted (vertical) position the pin serves for supporting the pharyngeal scoop on the upper jaw of a patient in a reclining position.

In operation the device is introduced into the mouth of the person to be examined and the extensible pharyngeal member (Z is extended by pushing on rod f until the shoe 0 rests against the posterior wall of the pharynx. Then, a pivotal movement of the tongue-scoop accomplished by means of the locking device and by causing the patients head to be bent backwardly, will make the larynx directly Visible and the larynx will remain so until the locking device is released.

I claim- 1. An instrument for direct examination of the larynx comprising two pivotally connected members adapted to be inserted into apatients mouth, one thereof being adapted to overlie the tongue, the other thereof being extensible to the posterior wall of the pharynx, whereby separation of the members will make the larynx visible through the mouth, and an adjustable support carried at the end of said extensible member ancll1 adapted to rest against said posterior wa 2. An instrument for direct examination of the larynx, comprising two pivot-ally connected members adapted to be inserted into a patients mouth, one of said members constituting a tongue scoop, the other of said membersbeing longitudinally extensible to the posterior wall of the pharynx, whereby relative pivotal movement of the members will make the larynx visible through the mouth, and a shoe pivotally carried by said extensible member and adapted to rest against said posterior wall.

3. An instrumentfor direct examination of the larynx, comprising two normally parallel and overlying members adapted to be inserted into a patients mouth and pivotally connected at a point near one of their adjacent ends, one of said members being lon gitudin'ally. extensible to the posterior wall of the pharynx, an adjustable support carried by said extensible member and adapted to rest against said wall, and means carried by one'of said members for pivotally moving the other with respect thereto whereby the larynx will be made visible through the mouth.

4. An instrument for direct examination of the larynx, comprising two pivotally connected members adapted to be inserted into a patients mouth, one thereof constituting a tongue scoop and having a bifurcated portion adjacent the pivot point and embracing the rear end of the other member, and means carried by said first named member for pivotally moving the second member whereby the larynx will be made visible through the mouth, said means comprising a spindle carried by and extending across the bifurcated portion and having at least one transverse projection adapted to bear against the rear end of the second member when the spindle is rotated.

5. An instrument for direct examination of the larynx, comprising two pivotally connected members adapted to be inserted into a patients month, one thereof constituting a tongue scoop, the other thereof being extensible to the posterior wall of the pharynx, an adjustable support carried by the extensible member and adapted to rest against said wall, means carried by one of said members and cooperating with the other member for pivotally moving the latter, and means for locking said last named member in any desired position relative to the first.

6. An instrument for direct examination of the larynx, comprising two pivotally connected members adapted to be inserted into a patients mouth, one thereof constituting a tongue scoop, the other thereof being extensible to the posterior wall of the pharynx, whereby separation of the members will make the larynx visible through the month, said extensible member comprising a strip pivotally connected to said tongue scoop and having doubled over edges to form grooves, a longitudinally slidable member in said grooves and having a rearwardly extending control rod, and a shoe pivotally connected to the forward end of the slidable member and adapted to adjust itself to and rest against a point on said posterior wall.

7. In an instrument for direct examination of the larynx, in combination, two pivotally connected members adapted to be inserted into a patients month, one thereof constituting tongue scoop, the other thereof being extensible to the posterior wall of the pharynx, and an adjustable pin pivotally connected to one edge of the extensible memher and adapted to rest against the upper jaw of a patient to steady said member.

In testimonv whereof I affix my signature.

DR. FRANZ HASLINGER. 

